Electro-mechanical oscillating device



Oct. 27, 1959 D, A, LACE 2,910,599

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL OSCILLATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1956 F I 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY tory motion.

United States Patent() ELECTRO-MECHANICAL OSCILLATING DEVICE Donald A. Lace, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-fifth to Nicholas M. Esser, Roselle, Ill.

Application February 15, 1956, Serial No. 565,600

4 Claims. (Cl. 310-39) This invention relates in general to electro-mechanical devices and more specifically to an electromagnetic pulsing device for producing electro-mechanically oscilla- Such motion may be transmitted for ex ample to another physical object or product-to attract attention thereto for advertising purposes.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide an improved electro-mechanical device for producing oscillatory motion which may be transmitted directly or indirectly to another physical object or objects.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in such a device a new concept in electromagnetic pulsing.

Another object of this invention is to provide in such a device an electro-mechanical arrangement affording exceptionally long periods of continuous operation from energy derived from a single dry cell such as an ordinary flashlight battery. 7

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described which is self starting, simple in construction and yet dependable in operation.

These and additional objects and advantages will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an electro-mechanical device for producing oscillatory motion transmittable from a shaft directly or indirectly to another object.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates a base or housing. For convenience of illustration the base or housing 10 is shown provided with a U-shaped cross section (see Fig. 3). It will be appreciated however that this base or housing may in certain instances comprise a substantially complete enclosure for the pulsing mechanism described herein, and may consist of any desired material such as metal or plastic. Likewise, if the power source for the pulsing mechanism is a dry cell, the latter may be mounted entirely within, or on a wall outside of, the base or housing 10 by means of clips (not shown) which may or may not be conductors, all of which are expedients well known in the art. As illustrated schematically in Fig. 2, a battery 11 is indicated as the power source, external of the base or housing 10.

To one wall of the base or housing 10, there is mounted a frame 12 of magnetic material comprising two oppositely extending substantially parallel legs 13 and 14 and an intermediate connecting web 15. The frame 12 is further provided with an electromagnet 16 in the form of a coil 17 disposed about a central pole 18. The pole 18 is in length substantially equal to the length of the web plus the thickness of the leg 14 2 r of the frame, and it together with the coil 16 and the frame 12 are secured to the base or housing 10 by a single fastening means such as a screw 19.

A bowed armature 20 also of magnetic material of substantially the same width as the width of the frame 12, and provided with a smooth curve of large radius, is mounted preferably at its center to the leg 14 of the frame 12, so that one end extends over the magnet pole 18. This is accomplished preferably by a pair of rivets or eyelets 21 substantially longer than the thickness of the leg 14 and the armature 20, and coil springs 22 preferably disposed between the heads of the rivets or eyelets 21 and the armature 20. The armature 20 so mounted at its center is substantially balanced and rockable about its mounting. I

The curved or bowed armature 20 is further provided with an isolated electrical contact 23 insulated as at 24 from the armature 20, and preferably located on the end of the armature 20 opposite the end adapted to be attracted by the electromagnet 16.

Journalled to the base or housing 10 with one end at least extending outwardly therebeyond, there is provided a shaft 25 preferably positioned substantially parallel to the leg and web surfaces of the frame 12, and preferably on the side of the leg 14 opposite that to which the radiused armature 20 is mounted. To maintain the shaft longitudinally in place, suitable collars or shoulders may be provided, or it may be staked on one or both sides of the wall of the housing 10, from which it extends'outwardly.

In the device illustrated, to the outwardly extending end of the shaft 25 there is fixed a circular platen or table 26. Extending from the platen 2 6 is a lug or striker arm 27 positioned to engage or be engaged by the electrical contact 23. As the table 26 illustrated is-symmetrically shaped, weighted and mounted on the shaft 25 there is provided a biasing spring 28 secured. at one end to the shaft 25 and at its other end to the base or housing 10. It will be appreciated that depending on the operating position of the table 26 and the degree of symmetry with respect to its shape, weight and mounting, the spring 28 may be dispensed with. In the device illustrated however, and particularly in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1, positive operation is insured by employment of a return means such as the spring 28.

The device is operated by a self interrupting circuit 29 illustrated schematically in Fig. 2. This circuit may be traced from the battery 11, thru coil 17 of the electromagnet 16, insulated contact 23, striker arm 27, table 26, shaft 25, housing 10 (or equivalent conductor), back to battery 11. Thru the circuit just traced, the coil 17 is energised, attracting the armature 20 to the pole 18, rocking it about its mounting against the tension exerted by the mounting springs 22. The opposite end of the armature at the same time sharply drives the striker arm 27, propelling the latter and the table 26 away from it, thereby interrupting the circuit 29 and deenergising the magnet 16. The striker arm 27 continues to move away from the contact 23 until the inertia of the table 26 is overcome either by virtue of its unsymmetrical weight and mounting or by the spring 28, or both as the case may be, whereupon it is returned to its initial position. Meanwhile, the armature 20 has been returned to its rest position upon deenergisation of the electromagnet 16 by the tension of the armature mounting springs 22. Each time the striker arm 27 and the contact 23 again engage, the cycle is repeated,

It will be apparent therefore that the shaft 25 and table 26 are continuously oscillated, the spring 28 always biasing the shaft 25 into a self starting position. Physical objects directly or indirectly connected or attached to the table 26, therefore, may be oscillated or otherwise moved whereby attention is likely to be drawn to the object. Devices of this character have oscillated continuously such objects as a directly connected coffee can or the like for periods of from four to six weeks on the current derived from a single flashlight type battery.

It shall be understood that numerous modifications and arrangements of applicants invention described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and all such modifications, arrangements and changes as fall within the true spirit of this invention are intended as being within its scope, best defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I a

1. An electromagnetic pulsing device, comprising a frame of magnetic material, an electromagnet mounted to said frame, a curved armature of large radius, means for rockably mounting said armature near its center to said frame for pivotal movement about said mounting, 'at least one spring positioned at said mounting biasing said armature toward said frame at the location of its pivotal movement, said armature at rest being thus substantially balanced and having one end extending poised over said electromagnet, a shaft, a rotatable member mounted on said shaft, a lug extending from said member and spaced from said shaft in the path of said armature, and means including a self-interrupted circuit for energising said electromagnet to rock said armature about its spring biased mounting and to drive said lug about said shaft.

' 2. An electromagnetic pulsing device, comprising a frame of magnetic material, an electromagnet mounted to said frame, a curved armature of large radius, means for rockably mounting said armature near its center to said frame for pivotal movement about said mounting and maintaining its longitudinal relationship with respect to said frame, at least one spring positioned at said mounting biasing said armature toward said frame at the location of its pivotal movement, said armature at rest being thus substantially balanced and having one end extending poised over said electromagnet, a shaft, a rotatable member mounted on said shaft, a lug extending from said member and spaced from said shaft in the path of said armature, and means including a selfinterrupted circuit for energising said electromagnet to rock said armature about its spring biased mounting and to drive said lug about said shaft.

3. An electromagnetic pulsing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lug is adapted to strike an insulated contact on the other end of said armature.

4. An electromagnetic pulsing device, comprising a frame of magnetic material, an electromagnet mounted to said frame, a curved armature of large radius, means including a plurality of spaced pins for rockably mounting said armature near its center to said frame for pivotal movement about said mounting and maintaining its longitudinal relationship with respect to said frame,

a plurality of springs positioned at said mounting bias- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,949

Potter Feb. 20, 1906 1,816,102 Waters-et'al. July 28, 1931 1,983,092 Loudon, Dec. 4, 1934 2,129,882 Shattuck Sept, 13, 1938 2,458,939 Hall Ian. 11, 1949 

